Universally adjustable platen for writing machine



Jan. 14, '1 958 J. T. DAVIDSON 2,819,781

UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE PLATEN FOR WRITING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1954 arg zzzzzzzzzgza '1 7 2o INVENTOR JOHN T DAVIDSON 4. f WW United States Patent UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE PLATEN'FOR WRITING MACHINE John T. Davidson, Dayton,0hio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 9, 1954, Serial No. 409,237 8 Claims. (Cl. 197-123.)

This invention relates to platen rolls for writing machines, and more particularly to variables therefor permitting relative adjustment of the platen roll per se relative to its advancing mechanism.

Such variables or ratchet release mechanisms as have heretofore been known and used have certainwell defined. disadvantages when used in modern business or accounting machines. The primary difficulty encountered is one of slippage due to the rapidity with which the machines operate and the force applied to the platen. Most variables also require varying amounts of space within the side frames of the business machine carriage which reduces the amount of space available for the passage of record forms therethrough.

Thus the object of the invention is to improve the construction as wellas the means and mode of operation of writing machine platens, whereby they may not only be economically manufactured, but more efficient and satisfactory in use, uniform in action, having relatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for minutely adjusting the platen shaft through partial rotations independently of writing machine operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide such adjusting means and its associated mechanism exteriorly of the machine framework.

A further object of the invention is to provide positive means of minutely adjusting the platen shaft relative to the line space mechanism of the writing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a variable as herein disclosed which includes a positive pin type of drive as compared with a friction drive.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a platen for a writing machine having the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the. invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown one, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of a platen shaft showing the line space ratchet Wheel thereon and the variable forming the subject matter thereof.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 1, showing the location of the unit relative to the frame of the machine in which it is used.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, but with portions removed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the knob alone, showing it in operated position with the variable disengaged.

Fig. 5 is a sectionalperspective view of the. coupling disc. assembly.

2,819,781 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 'ice Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 showing another portion of the assembly; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Like par-ts are indicated, by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. l a fragmentary view of the end of a platen roll embodying the present invention. Mounted upon the extreme end of a platen shaft 1 is a variable- 2 and in inwardly spaced relation thereto is a ratchet wheel3 through whichpower is supplied to the platen from the line space mechanism embodied within the business machine in which the: platen is located. Power impulses are transmitted from the line space mechanism to the ratchet 3 and through the variable mechanism 2 to the shaft 1 to thereby rotate the platen the desired extent during each line spacing operation of the business machine.

Supported upon the end of shaft 1 is a tube 4, the innot end of which is splined as at, 5 for positive driven engagement with the line space. ratchet- 3. Supported upon, tube 4 in enclosing relation therewith is a spacer tube 6, on one endv of which is a peripheral flange '7 engageable with the side frame of the business machine carriage 8. The opposite end of the tube 6 abuts a cover support 9 which forms a. part of the variable mechanism 2. The support 9 is thereby fixed against movement toward the frame member 8 and. the variable mechanism is also thereby restrained against such movement.

The cover or actuating knob 10 of the variable 2 is supported at one end upon the periphery of the support 9, while the opposite end of the knob 10 issupported upon a collar 11 surrounding the extreme outer end of shaft 1. A screw 12 engageable Within the end of shaft 1 retains the knob 10 in position upon the supports. 9 and 11.

Collar 11 is fixed to shaft 1 for unison rotation there.- with by a pin 13. The collar 11 also. carries, either as an integral part or a separate element fixedly united thereto, a drive disc 14 which has on its periphery a key 15. Inte'riorly of the knob 10 is an annular shoulder 16 in which a keyway 17 is located so as to cooperate. with the key 15 of the drive disc 14. The knob 10 is thereby positively connected with shaft 1 for unison. rotation therewith although free for relative. movement longitudinally of the shaft.

Adjacent the drive disc 14 and fixed thereto is a notched. indexing disc 18 about the periphery of which is located a floating thrust washer 19. The diameter of the indexing disc 18 is such as to lie within the annular shoulder 16 of the knob 10 sothat longitudinal movement of the. knob past the disc 18 is possible. The washer 19, however, overlaps the shoulder 16 of the knob so that as the knob is moved along the shaft the shoulder 16 therein engages and moves the washer 19 in unison therewith. Adjacent the indexing disc 18 is aspacer 2 1 which separates tube 4 from the indexing disc 18 and provides a stop or locating means for the tube.

Spaced discs 21-22 are carried by tube 4 and fixedagainst rotation relative thereto by means of the flatted sliding connection 23 (Fig. 6). Intermediate the discs- 2122 is a spacer ring 24' which maintains the discs in proper spaced relation. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3-, theposition of the discs 21-22 relative to the tube 4 ismaintained by the tube 6 which abuts the shoulder on support 9. The shoulder of the support 9 on the opposite sidethereof abuts thedisc 22' while the spacer 2t): abuts disc 21. The discs 21 and 22 are thereby fixed against movement longitudinally of the shaft 1 and tube 4. and also fixed against relative rotary motion with respect to the tube 4.

Loosely carried. by the discs;-21-22 are a plurality of. shouldered. pins 25.. which; are free; to; slide. to andfro relative to the discs. The pins are normally urged toward the left of Fig. 2 by springs 26 projecting axially from the rear end of the pins into engagement with the support 9. The front ends of the pins 25 (to the left in the drawing) are of reduced diameter and are so dimensioned as to fit Within the notches of the notched indexing disc 18. The shoulder so formed on the pins 25 is engageable by the thrust Washer 19 to retract or withdraw the pins away from the indexing disc 18.

Upon pressing the knob 2 inwardly (toward the right of the drawing) against the resistance of spring 27, the internal shoulder 16 within knob 2 moves the washer 19 and the pins 25 to the right against the resistance of springs 26. Such motion retracts the pins 25 away from the notched indexing disc 18 whereupon the indexing disc 18, drive disc 14 and shaft 1 are free for rotary movement relative to the tube 4 and ratchet 3.

Power supplied to the line space ratchet 3 is normally transmitted to the shaft 1 through tube 4, discs 2122 and pins 25 to the notched disc 18. From there it is transmitted to shaft 1 through drive disc 14 and collar 11. Removal of the pins 25 and disc 18 interrupts such power transmission system, thereby permitting the knob 2 to actuate shaft 1 independently of the ratchet 3 through the keyed connection 15-17 intermediate the knob 2 and the drive disc 14.

The number of pins 25 and the number of notches in disc 18 may be varied according to the degree of adjustment desired under influence of the variable knob 2. It is, however, necessary that the spacing between pins 25 be different than the spacing between adjacent notches in the disc 18 and that the spacing between pins 25 be something other than a multiple of the notch spacing. With such arrangement, only one pin 25 is engageable within the notched disc 18 at a given time, since when one pin is so engaged, the other pins are unaligned with the notches. The number of notches multiplied by the number of pins determines the number of possible adjustments during one revolution of shaft 1 relative to ratchet 3 and the amount thereof. In other words, the greater the number of pins and notches, the smaller the increment of adjustment available.

If desired the notched disc 18 may be mounted upon tube 4 while the discs 21-22 and associated pins 25 are mounted on collar 11 and drive disc 14. In such reversal of parts knob 2 and other parts are likewise reversed so that disengagement of the pins 25 from disc 18 is accomplished by movement of the knob 2 outwardly (to the left of the drawing).

The subject matter of this application is fully disclosed in copending application Serial No. 122,459, filed October 20, 1949, now matured into Letters Patent No. 2,683,519, issued July 13, 1954, all benefits of which are claimed for this application.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a universally adjustable platen roll for a writing machine, a variable drive coupling therefor, including a rotary drive shaft upon which the platen roll is mounted, a tubular shaft concentrically disposed about one end thereof, means for actuating said tubular shaft by operation of the writing machine, and means for variably interconnecting the tubular shaft with the rotary drive shaft including reciprocatory interlock means interconnecting said shafts for unison rotation, actuating means therefor comprising a reciprocatory spring biased sleeve supported on said drive shaft for unison rotary motion therewith and extending as a handle in enclosing relation to said interlocking means, and means for interengaging the reciprocatory interlock means in various positions of rotary adjustment of said shafts, one relative to the other, said shafts being rotated, one relative to the other, by rotation of the reciprocatory sleeve while in operated position.

2. In a universallyadjustable platen roll for a writing machine, a pair of concentrically disposed rotary shafts, a variable drive coupling therefor including a disc carried by one of said shafts, a plurality of spaced notches adjacent the periphery of said disc, a mounting disc carried by the other of said shafts, a plurality of reciprocatory pins mounted thereon and axially extending toward the notched disc, there being a different number of pins than notches, the construction and arrangement being such that only one of said pins will engage the disc at any one time, an actuator for said pins comprising a reciprocatory sleeve in surrounding relation with said discs and said pins, a portion of which upon reciprocation thereof is engageable with said pins to move said pins relative to the notched disc, and an interlock between said actuator and one of the shafts through which rotary motion of the actuator is transmitted to its associated shaft.

3. A universally adjustable platen roll for a writing machine, including a shaft, a tubular shaft in surrounding relation therewith and capable of relative rotary motion, actuating means on one of said shafts, and a releasable variable coupling interconnecting said shafts for unison rotary motion or independent rotary motion, including an annular series of equally spaced reciprocating pins carried by one of said shafts, a plate carried by the other of said shafts having an annular series of equally spaced perforations therein, the spacing between said pins and said perforations being different so that only one pin of said series is engageable with said plate at a time, and means for moving said pins to and fro relative to said plate, the means for moving the pins in one direction being a handle carried as an enclosure for said pins and said plate by said one of said shafts and the means for moving the pins in the other direction being carried by the other of said shafts and being also enclosed by said handle.

4. In a universally adjustable platen roll for a writing machine having a supporting shaft, a variable mechanism including a tubular shaft surrounding the supporting shaft, a series of relatively rotatable discs, one group of which is carried by said tubular shaft and the other group of which is carried by said supporting shaft, a reciprocatory housing enclosing said discs, and rotatable in unison with one group of said discs, an interlock mechanism enclosed within said housing carried by one group of discs and selectively engageable with the other group in various positions of relative adjustment to interlock said groups of discs for unison rotation, means carried by said housing for disengaging said interlock when said housing is moved in one direction whereby said housing and associated group of discs may rotate relative to the other group of discs, and spring means urging said housing and interlock mechanism in the opposite direction to lock said groups of discs and housing together for unison rotary motion.

5. In a universally adjustable platen roll for a writing machine having a supporting shaft, a variable mechanism including a tubular shaft surrounding the supporting shaft, disc means fixed to one of said shafts for unison rotation therewith, reciprocatory projections carried by said disc means movable longitudinally of the shaft, recessed disc means fixed to the other of said shafts for unison rotation therewith, a plurality of recesses in said disc means arranged for engagement by at least one of said projections, the number of recesses being odd with respect to the number of projections, a reciprocatory actuator engageable with said projections to move said projections in one direction longitudinally of the shafts, a resilient drive connected with each of said projections and the actuator urging said projections and actuator in the opposite direction longitudinally of the shaft, the construction and arrangement being such that the projections when at one limit of movement positively lock the two disc means together for unison rotation and when at the other limit of movement unlock the disc means for rotation relative to each other, and a handle extending as an enclosure over said variable mechanism and mounted on said other shaft for unison rotation therewith and longitudinal motion relatively thereto, said handle having a portion moving said actuator in said one direction in response to longitudinal motion of said handle in one direction.

6. In a universally adjustable platen roll assembly, a platen shaft; a tube rotatable on said shaft, one end of said shaft extending through and beyond one end of said tube, said tube being adapted for connection with line spacing mechanism; a stationary sleeve means about said tube and formed with a relatively broad flange; a sleeve on the projecting end of said shaft and secured thereto for unison rotation; a hollow cylindrical handle slidably mounted on said sleeve and on said flange in a manner substantially to enclose the said one end of said tube and adjacent part of the projecting end of said shaft;

means connecting said handle to said sleeve for unison rotary and relative longitudinal motions; and a driving connection between said tube and said shaft enclosed by said handle made effective and ineffective by longitudinal adjustment of said handle.

7. A universally adjustable platen roll assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that said last named means includes a perforate disc carried by said sleeve, pins carried by said tube engageable with said disc, and an actuating ring carried as an internal projection by said handle for disengaging said pins from said discs.

8. In a universally adjustable platen roll for a writing machine having a supporting shaft, a variable mechanism including a counter shaft in surrounding superposed relation to said supporting shaft, means for interlocking said shafts for unison rotation, including a positive pin type drive having pins retractable to release said shafts for rotation relatively to one another and further having a ring concentric with said shafts and movable longitudinally thereof to engage and retract said pins, a cylindrical member in surrounding relation to said variable mechanism and connected to said supporting shaft for unison rotary and relative longitudinal motions, and an internal formation on said member engageable with said ring to retract said ring in response to longitudinal motion of said member in one direction, said member having externally the form of a handle adapted to be received in the grasp of an operator for manual release of said variable and rotation of said supporting shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,021,386 Uhlig Mar. 26, 1912 1,096,791 Mohler May 12, 1914 1,142,787 Landsiedel June 8, 1915 

